Washing machine



Oct. 13, 1942. A. H. LABISKY 2,298,524

WASHING MACHINE Win jiwn w/ n, 9 A. H. LABISKY ,298,624

'WASHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1941 .3 Sheets-Sheet 2 @ZMI/flldk 1? WM 09-50% Patented Oct. 13, 1942 WASHING MACHINE Arthur H. Labisky, West Bend, Wla, assignor to The Barton Corporation,

West Bend, Wia, a

corporation of Wisconsin Application February 5, 1941', Serial No. 377,422

8 Claims.

This invention relates to washing machines for cleansing clothes and the like.

Many now commercially available clothes washing machines, intended primarily for domestic use, include what is known as a submerged type of agitator, which is to say, an agitator that is medially mounted in the tub of the machine and which includes liquid-impelling means that are oscillated in the cleansing liquid in the tub to impart a cleansing action to the liquid. Such liquid-impelling means are usually in the form of vanes or fins extended upwardly from an outwardly flared lower portion of a vertically extending post-like member mounted medially in the tub, such vanes or fins terminating well below the top of the post-like member. It has been observed, by reason of the cleansing movement' imparted to the liquid in the tub in the course of oscillation of the aforesaid vanes or fins or the like, that the clothing or the like being cleansed collects in substantially ring-like formation near the surface of the cleansing liquid. It has also been observed that those articles of clothing or the like that pass to the inner part of the ring-like .formation so assumed thereby are not subjected to as effective cleansing action as are those articles of clothing or the like in other parts of the formation. The reason for this is that there appears to be a somewhat dead area in the,liquid near the surface thereof in substantially vertical alignment with the inner ends of the aforesaid vanes or fins.

Hence, it is the'primary object of my invention to insure effective cleansing of articles of clothing and the like that pass to the-inner part of the substantially ring-like formation assumed by articles of clothing and the like being cleansed in a washing machine embodying an agitator of the aforesaid type and a related object is to subject articles of clothing that pass to the inner part of the ring-like formation assumed thereby, as aforesaid, to a rubbing action and thereby insure effective cleansing thereof.

It will be understood that articles of clothing and the like that collect in a ring-like formation near the surface of cleansing liquid in the tub of a washing machine in the manner above described move over each other in the ring-like formation .so that in the course of a period of operation the various articles of clothing and the like being cleansed will pass to the inner part of the formation to thereby be, in accordance with this invention, subjected to an effec- 10 dent to the novel flow of cleansing liquid induced in the tub of that machine. However, such col lection and movement of the articles of clothing or the like is also effected in other machines embodying an agitator or liquid-impelling means of the aforesaid character and hence while the present invention may be advantageously employed in a machine of the character disclosed m the aforesaid'patent, it is not limited to use in such a machine.

Furthermore, in United States Letters Patent No. 2,119,677, patented to me on June 7, 1938, I have disclosed a washing machine wherein a compartment is defined in the tub of the machine and this compartment is arranged to be in communication with the cleansing liquid in the tub so that light and delicate articles or the like may be washed in such compartment separately from other articles in the tub proper, whereby the lighter and delicate articles may be efiectively cleansed without such damage thereto as might arise by reason of intermixing of the lighter and more delicate articles with the heavier articles as the articles are'being cleansed in the course of operation of the ma- 5 chine. v

It is another important. object of the present invention to afford a compartment of the aforesaid nature and to so constitute and arrange this compartment in the tub of the machine that 40 the collecting of articles of clothing or the like being cleansed in substantially ring-like formation as aforesaid will not be impaired, and an ancillary object is to so constitute and arrange the outer wall of the compartment that clothing and the like collected in the aforesaid substantially ring-like formation will be subjected to a gentle rubbing action upon contact with such outer wa1l,'and other and related objects are to so form the outer wall of a compartment of the aforesaid character that clothes or the like collected in the substantially ring-like formation will be subjected to an effective yet gentle rubbing action upon contact thereof with appropriately formed portions on such outer wall and to accurately support the aforesaid outer wall in such position as to insure effective yet gentle rubbing action on articles of clothing or the like collected in substantially ring-like formation thereabout as aforesaid.

Other objects of the invention are to so form the agitating means for liquid in the tub of a washing machine or the like and in a. compartment in the tub that an effective and uniform flow will 'be'induced in the liquid upon oscillation of the agitating means; to enable means affording a compartment of the aforesaid nature to be detachably mounted on the liquid agitating means; to so arrange the agitating means that effective and uniform flow will be imparted to the cleansing liquid in the tub whether or not the means affording the compartment is mounted on the agitating means; and to utilize portions of the liquid-impelling means included on the agitating means for the purpose of firmly and accurately retaining the means affording the compartment on the agitating means.

Where a compartment of the aforesaid character is afforded to enable light and delicate articles of clothing to be cleansed therein separate and apart from heavier articles of clothing or the like being cleansed in the tub proper, it is of course important that those articles in the compartment be subjected to an eflicient cleansing action and so to do in a novel manner is yet another important object of this invention; and objects ancillary to this are to include liquid agitating means on the outer wall of the compartment; to utilize portions of the agitating means on which the means affording the compartment are mounted for the purpose of inducing an efficient cleansing movement of liquid in the compartment; and to insure accurate interrelation between means provided for the purpose of imparting such a cleansing action to liquid in the compartment.

Yet further objects of this invention are to utilize an agitating means formed from a plastic material, such as a resinous product and of which a phenolic condensate or the like is an example, so as to thereby facilitate imparting the desired configuration to the agitating means; to form those portions affording a compartment of the aforesaid character from a plastic material, such as a resinous product and of which a phenolic condensate or the like is an example, so as to thereby facilitate imparting the desired configuration to such portions; and to separately mold interengageable parts of an agitating means and portions affording a compartment thereon from plastic material so as to thereby enable economical and accurate production thereof and to insure accurate interfitting thereof.

Other and further obfects of the present invention will be apparentfr'om the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of iilustration, show a preferred embodiment and the principle thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principle may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

. In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical sectional view of awashing machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on the line 2-2 on Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the part adapted to be mounted on the agitating means to afford a compartment of the aforesaid nature;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line l4 on Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view taken substantially on the line 5 '5 on Fig. ,1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on the line 6-6 on Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the agitator;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-8 on Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on the line 33 on Fig. 14;

Fig. 10 is a vertical view taken substantially on the line l0lll on Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a detail view taken substantially on the line |l--li on Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line l2--|2 on Fig. 1;

Fig. 13 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on the line l3l3 on Fig. 9; and

Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line ll-ll on Fig. 12.

While my invention may be utilized with any tub of generally circular outline, as will be explained presently, I have shown, in the accompanying drawings, a tub T of the character disclosed in my aforesaid Patent No. 1,929,747. This tub is mounted on a supporting structure or base B that includes a flat ring-like member 8 having the upper ends of legs as 3 suitably secured thereto so as to support the ring or band 8 in suitably spaced relation with a floor or other support. The upper edge of the ring-like member 8 is inturned to aiford a flange In providing a seat in which the rounded lower edge of the circular tub T is rested, a gasket I2 closing the joint between the tub and the flange ID.

The cleansing liquid impelling means shown in accompanying drawings consists of the agitator A, described in detail presently. This agitator is oscillated in the tub I in the course of operation' of the machine and to this end it is connected to a vertically extending shaft 33 preferably located on the vertical center axis of the tub and driven in a manner to be explained presently, from the operating means mounted beneath the tub T and carried by the ring 8. The shaft 33 extends through a medially located opening in the bottom of the tub T and through a thimble 35 which is suitably clamped against a washer interposed between a flange on this thimble 'and the tub bottom to afford a water-tight seal at the point of passage of the shaft 33 through the bottom of the tub. A standard 36 extends upwardly from the thimble 35 at the vertical axis of the tub and has bearing collars 31 and 38 formed thereon that afford supports for the agitator A, this now being described.

The agitator A is shown in Fig. 1 and in detail in Figs. 7 and 8 and by referring thereto it will be seen that the agitator includes a central hollow column or sleeve 39 which is enlarged at its lower end by being flared outwardly to afford what constitutes the base portion 40, this being shown in section in'Flg. 1. Shoulders 4| and 42 are formed in the sleeve 33 and respectively rest on the upper edges of the bearing collars 31 and 33 to thereby support the agitator A on the standard 33, and when the agitator is arranged in this position, the column 33 extends vertically in the tub and the base portion 40 thereof has the peripheral edge slightly spaced from the bottom of the tub, and the portion 48 is so sized that the peripheral edge thereofls disposed substantially midway between the vertical wall and the central vertical axis of the tub when the agitator is mounted on the standard 36 as just described.

A socket member' 43 is provided in the sleeve 39 near the upper end thereof that is opposite the outwardly flared lower end of the agitator and this member has a socket 45 therein that is formed complementary to the polygonal portion 46 at the upper end of the shaft 33. When the agitator A is mounted on the standard 36, the polygonal portion 46 is embraced in the socket 45 to thereby connect the agitator A to the shaft 83 so that the agitator will be oscillated with this shaft in the course of operation thereof in the manner now to be explained.

The shaft 33, in the illustrated form of the invention, is driven by a motor' |4 carried by a substantially U-shaped bracket Ill (Fig. 1) that is secured to arms 1| and 12 which are pivotally mounted on the shaft 13 to support the motor I4 for pivotal movement for a purpose to be explained presently. The shaft 13 is mounted in a bracket 14 that extends between the ring 8 and an arm 15 that depends from the cross bar 18 (Fig. 12) which is also secured to the ring or band 8 of th supporting structure B. A handle 11 is fast to the arm 12 near the connection thereof with the shaft 13 and this handle projects through an opening 18 in the band 8 and is selectively engageable with the vertically spaced shoulders 80 on the plate 8|, the handle 1'! being movable through the opening 19 in the plate 8|, this opening being aligned with the opening 18 when the plate 8| is secured in operative position on the band 8. The handle 11 is movable through the opening 19 from one shoulder 80 to another to bring about variation in the operating speed of the agitator A in a manner and for a. purpose explained presently.

The rotary movement of the operating shaft of the motor I4 is translated into oscillatory movement for the shaft 33 by means included in the hbusing H mounted beneath the tub T. Thus a pulley l5, explained presently, is fast on the shaft of the motor I and an endless belt I8 is passed about this pulley and about a pulley l'l fast on the main drive shaft l8 that is journaled in bearings I8, carried by a bracket |I supported from the cross bar I5, and in bearings as l8 (Fig. 6) provided in the lower section I! of the housing H. The belt I8 is of the so-called v-type and the pulley H is shapedcomplementary to this belt. The pulley l5, however, in-' cludes a fixed part 82 and a movable part 83 that is urged toward the fixed part 82 by springs (not shown) housed in the hub 84. The adjacent faces of the parts 82 and 83 are shaped to be complementary to the belt l6 and its foregoing arrangement, coupled with the swinging of the motor I4 about the shaft .13 upon movement of the handle 11 from one shoulder 80 to another, that enables different operating speeds to be imparted to the shaft 33 and agitator A from the constant speed motor l4, as will now be explained.

It is desirable that the agitator A be capable of operation at diflerent speeds because the fibers of some materials are weakened when wet while the fibers ofothers are, in effect, toughened when wet. Thus cotton fibers are materially stronger when wet than when dry whereas the converse is true of woolen fibers. Hence, when clothing or the like made of cotton fibers are being cleansed, these may be subjected to a rapid and vigorous cleansing action and under such circumstances the agitator A may be operated rapidly. To effect this the handle 11 is moved from the position in engagement with the upper of the shoulders 80, as shown in Fig. 11, into engagement with the lowermost of these shoulders and thereupon the motor I4 is pivoted from 'the full line position thereof shown in. Fig. 10

beyond the intermediate position thereof shown in broken lines in Fig. 10 and when this occurs the center distance between the shaft of the motor l4 and the shaft I8 is materially-reduced.

This enables the belt IE to move toward the shaft of the motor and the springs in the hub 84 cause the movable part 83 to move into an adjusted position so as to tightly clamp the belt l6 between the parts 82 and 83. When the parts are in this position the shaft I8 is driven at a relatively high speed as is the agitator A in a manner explained presently.

However, when clothing or the like made, for example, of linen fibers are to be washed, the

handle 11 is desirably engaged with the intermediate of the shoulders 80 (Fig. 11) and the motor l4 assumes the broken line position shown in Fig. 10. When the motor is in this position the belt l8 is clamped between the parts 82 and 83 in a position intermediate that described above and. that in which it is shown in Figs. 1 and 10 and in such circumstances the drive shaft I8 is operated at a speed intermediate the relatively rapid speed described above and the slow speed at which it is operated when the motor I4 is disposed in the full line position shown in Fig. 10 and the belt l8 and the parts 82 and 83 are in the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 10. Resort is had to such slow operating speed of the shaft 18 when clothing or the like of woolen or other fibers that are weakened when wet are to be cleansed.

The means which are operative to impart an oscillatory movement to the agitator A are confined in the housing H that embodies an upper section H and a lower section Ill. The .upper section II includes padsas I3 that are secured to the band 8 and cross bar 16 whereby the housing H is firmly supported beneath the tub T. Bolts extended through aligned bosses on the sections H and I9 secure these sections together. A worm 20 is provided on the shaft 18 between the bearings l9 and meshes with a worm wheel 2| fast on the shaft 22 joumaled in bearings 23 and 23' (Figs. 13 and 14) respectively provided in the housing sections H and [9. Hence, the

worm wheel 2| and shaft 22 are rotated constantly so long as the motor l4, controlled by a suitable switch (not shown), is in operation. A disc 21 is eccentrically and rotatably mounted on the shaft 22 immediately above the worm wheel 2| and is surrounded by a strap 21' at one end of an arm 28 that extends through the housin H as shown best in Fig. 6. The disc 21 may be detachably connected to the worm wheel 2| by a suitable clutch as will now be described.

The part of the housing H whereat the shaft 22 and associated parts are positioned is disposed outwardly of the band 8, as best shown in Fig. 1. A sleeve 25 extends upwardly from this portion of the housing H parallel with the tub wall to which it is secured by'a bracket 25' and this sleeve supports the usual wringer (not shown) and encloses the drive shaft 28 for such .wringer,

this shaft being aligned with and suitably connected to the shaft 22 as best shown in Figs. 13 and 14. Openings as 94 (Fig. 2) are provided in the sleeve near the bracket 25' and a lever 35, pivotally mounted on bracket 25', as indicated at 96, extends through these openings to be movable between the lower shoulder 81 and the upper shoulder 88 on the plate 89 (Fig. 1), this arrangement affording an operating means for that clutch that controls the interconnection between the worm wheel 2| and the eccentric disc 21, as will now be described.

A collar 90 (Figs. 13 and 14) having a peripheral groove 9| therein is provided on the eccentric 2'! and a plate 92 (Fig. 14) extends into this groove. The plate 92 is secured to the lower end of a clutch rod 93 that extends through a bearing 94 in the housing section II and which has.

the upper end thereof connected, as indicated at 95 (Fig. 2),: to the lever 85. A spring 96 is disposed about the shaft 22 and extends between the eccentric 21 and a collar 91 on the shaft 22 and is effective to urge the pin 98 (Fig. 13) on the eccentric 21 toward the worm wheel 2| and then into, when aligned therewith, one of the spaced openings 99 in this worm wheel, provided the lever 85 is engaged with the lower shoulder 81 (Fig. 1). When, however, the lever 85 is engaged with the upper shoulder 89 (Fig. 1) then the eccentric 21 is raised against the effect of the spring 96 and the pin 99 is withdrawn from an opening as 99 and the eccentric and parts driven thereby come to rest. When the pin 98 is seated in an opening as 99, then the shaft 33 and the agitator A are oscillated as will now be described.

The shaft 33 extends through the thimble 35 and a sleeve l2, on the housing section II, into the housing and the lower end of this shaft is journaled in a bearing 34 (Fig. 1) in the housing section I 9. A gear 32 is fast to the shaft 33 above the bearing 34 and a gear segment 30, mounted on the stud shaft 3| fast in the housing section l9, meshes with the gear 32. Th; end of the arm 28 opposite that carrying the strap 21 is pivotally connected to the segment as indicated at 29. Hence, when the eccentric 21 is in operation the segment 3|) is rocked and this is eilective to impart an oscillatory movement to the shaft 33 and the agitator A.

When the agitator A is so set in operation, it is efl'ective to impart a cleansing action to the cleansing liquid in the tub T. To this end suitable liquid-impelling means or fins 41 are extended upwardly from the base 40 and outwardly from -the sleeve 39 of the agitator A in suitably spaced relation one with the other, such spacing in this instance being at ninety degree intervals. These fins or liquid-impelling means are in the nature of fiat pieces and at the inner ends thereof they merge into the outwardly flared portion of the sleeve 39 and the base 40 of the agitator and, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 7, portions-of these plates or fins extend upwardly on the periphery of the sleeve 39, such portions being indicated by 41a. The inner ends of the portions 41a mergeinto the periphery of the sleeve 39 and terminate slightly below the upper end of the sleeve or column 39 whereat the socket member the degree of extent thereof from the periphery of the sleeve 39 downwardly, that is, in the direction of the point of merging thereof with the fins or blades 41.

When the pin 98 is engaged in an opening 99 as shown in Fig. 13 and circuit is closed to the motor l4 upon operation of a suitable switch (not shown) and the motor is set in operation, the main drive shaft l8, through the worm gear 20 causes the worm wheel 2| to be set in rotation whereupon the eccentricfl causes the link 28 to reciprocate in the housing H and thereupon rocking movement is imparted to the gear segment 30 which is effective on the gear or pinion 32 and consequently the shaft 33 to impart an oscillatory movement to this shaft which, by reason or the interconnection afl'orded by the polygonal portion 46 and the socket 45 in the socket member 43, causes the agitator A to be oscillated about the vertical axis of the tub T.

In use, the tub II is substantially two-thirds filled with saponified water or other cleaning liquid and the clothes to be washed are thrown into the tub and submerged in the cleansing liquid. The agitator A is then set in operation and thereupon the whole body of liquid in the tub is caused to flow in a novel and unusual manner to effect thorough cleansing of the clothes.

Thus when the agitator moves in one direction in the course of oscillation thereof, the liquid in the horizontal zone of the fins 41 is caused to flow tangentially of the agitator toward the upright wall of the tub and upon engagement with this wall, the liquid flows upwardly therealong. Such movement of the agitator in one direction also so effects the body of liquid in the tub that a circumferential movement is impai ted thereto horizontally across the tub wall and this movement is superimposed upon the upflow with the result that the liquid and particularly that adjacent the tub wall tends to flow in a helical manner, the axis of the helix being the center of the agitator, which is to say, the vertical axis of the tub H. When the agitator attains the end of its oscillatory movement in one direction, it starts to move in the other direction and the above described tendency toward helical flow collapses but is immediately recreated in the other direction and this continues as long as the agitator is oscillated. Such movement of the cleansing liquid causes the clothing or the like in the liquid to collect in substantially ring-like formation in any tub of generally circular formation and having a relatively smooth wall. However, if the tub is arranged in the manner disclosed in my aforesaid Patent No. 1,929,747 such collection of the clothing or the like is expedited. Hence, I prefer, but it is to be understood that this is not essential to form, in the vertical wall of the tub T, inwardly directed protuberances 48 and intermediate thereof I form depressions 49 of a size equal or substantially equal to the size of-the protuberances. The alternate protuberances and depressions are arranged to smoothly merge one into the other and the upper and lower ends thereof are spaced from the top and bottom of the vertical tub wall and smoothly merge into this wall. Hence the 43 is located. The outer free edges of the fins or blades 41a merge into the sleeve 39 on a gradual radius and from the termination of this radius to the juncture with the radius along which the portions 41a merge into the upper edges of the fins or blades 41, these edges are tapered as indicated at 417: so that the portions 41a increase in protuberances and depressions are free of sharp corners and angles such as might have an objectionable abrasive effect should the clothes contact therewith. The lower ends of the protuberances 43 and the depressions 49 are in substantial alignment with the upper edges of the fins 41 while the upper edges of the protuberances and depressions merge into the tub wall at or about the height of the upper end of the sleeve3 5. The

and is of appreciable force and as the liquid adejacent the vertical tub wall flows over the protuberances 48 it is deflected into the adjacent depressions 49 and as a result flows upwardly through the depressions with appreciable force and causes the clothing to collect as aforesaid.

The portions 41a on the agitator are, of course, also effective on the liquid and cooperate with the fins 41 in such a way that as the liquid is forced toward the vertical tub wall in thc course of operation of the agitator A, a downfiow of liquid is induced adjacent the sleeve 39, this primarily arising by reason of the forcing of the liquid toward the vertical tub wall by the fins 41 and being assisted by the cooperation of the portions 4101, with these fins. Thus by reason of the downfiow of liquid induced adjacent the sleeve 39, the forceful flow of liquid from the upper ends of the depressions culminates in a cross flow at or about the liquid level and toward the clothes, and this cross flow merges with the downfiow below the liquid level and adjacent the sleeve 39. The protuberances 48 deflect only that part of the flow adjacent the vertical tub wall and the forceful flow from the depressions 49 culminating in the aforesaid cross flow is affected'by the circumferential back and forth movement of the liquid with the result that the direction of the forceful cross flow is not constantly radial of the tub but rather changes with. the back and forth movement.

By reason of the tangential flow of liquid toward the tub wall induced by the fins 41 and the aforesaid upflow at the tub wall and the aforesaid cross flow and downflow, the clothes are suspended in substantially ring-like formation in the liquid. The force of the flow of liquidfrom the depressions 49 maintains the clothes in loose condition and causes them to move one over the other in the ring-like formation which is assumed thereby, and this movement of the clothes one over the other in the ring-like formation is further induced by the constantly changing direction of the cross flow.

Effective cleaning of the clothes can be effected in the manner just described whether or not protuberances as 48 and depressions as 49 are provided but I have found that this may be augmented by subjecting the clothes, and particularly those that pass to the inner periphery of the ring-like formation assumed thereby, to a gentle rubbing action, primarily since it appears that the clothing or the like at such inner peripharticles may be cleansed separately and -apart from the heavier articles, I provide a compartment C in the tub by mounting a substantial bowl-like member, generally indicated by 50, on the agitator A and I utilize this arrangement to subject the clothes at the inner periphery of the aforesaid ring-like formation to an effective rubbing action.

The bowl-like member 50 and the agitator A include interengageable portions and to this end the substantially bowl-like member has a collar 5| projecting outwardly from the substantially flat bottom 52 thereof. As best shown in Fig 3,

the collar 5| has bosses 53 on the periphery thereof at spaced intervals corresponding to the spacing of the fins 41 and the portions 41a. Slots 54 extend from the opening in the collar 5| and the bottom wall 52 of the bowl-like member into the bosses 53 and these slots are of such width that when the bowl-like member 50 is arranged above and then passed down on the agitator A,

the portions 410. may pass into these slots to be snugly embraced therein. By reason of the taper Alt on the portions 41a, the extent to which the bowl-like member 50 may be passed down onto the agitator A with the portions 41a passing through the slots 54 is limited, and the taper Mt on the portions 41a and the depth of the slots 54 are such that when the bowl-like member 50 has been passed down onto the agitator to such an extent that the collar 5| is spaced a short distance above the upper edges of the fins 41, further movement of the bowl-like member 50 downwardly on the agitator A is prevented and the member is firmly supported on the agitator for movement therewith.

The bowl-like member 50 has a ring-like portion 55 about the upper open side thereof which is of such diameter that when the bowl-like member so is mounted on the agitator A in the manner just described, the outer periphery of the ring-like member 55 is substantially in alignment with the vertical outer edges of the fins 41 that merge into the periphery of the base 40 of the agitator. The intermediate wall portion 56 of the bowl-like member 50, that interconnects the ring-like portion 55 and the flat bottom wall 52, is inclined and, as best shown in Fig. 1, is preferably slightly rounded.

Protuberances 51, somewhat like the protuberances 48, are formed in the intermediate wall portion 56 in the bowl-like member 50 at suitably spaced intervals and smoothly merge into the intermediate wall at the sides thereof, and these protuberances 51 also merge into the wall 56 adjacent the juncturesthereof with the ringlike member 55 and the bottom wall 52. By reason of the inward extent of the'inwardly directed protuberances what in effect are recesses It will be noted that the upper parts of the portions 41a are disposed in the compartment C afforded by the bowl-like member 50 and when the bowl-likemembfir 50'is mounted on the agitator A in the above described manner, these portions 41a afford liquid-agitating means in the compartment C. Additional liquid-agitating means in the compartment C are afforded by blades 59 which are provided on the intermediate wall 55 of the bowl-like'member 50 and which are located to be disposed on the inner parts of selected of the depressions 51. If desired, these blade-like members 59 can be located relative to the slots 54 so as to be in alignment therewith although, if desired, the members 59 can be arranged to be disposed intermediate slots 54. However, I have found that effective liquid movement may beinduced in the compartment C by aligning the blades 59 with the slots 54 so that these blades 59 are aligned with the portions 41a when the bowl-like member 50 is mounted on the agitator A.

While the periphery of the bowl-like member 50, and particularly the outer face of the intermediate wall 56 thereof, may be relied upon to subject the clothing at-the inner periphery of the substantially ring-like formation assumed thereby in the course of operation of the machine to a gentle rubbing action, I have found it advantageous to provide suitable clothes rubbing means or blades as 60 on the outer face of the intermediate wall 56. Such blades may be advantageously located intermediate the depressions 51 and preferably, although not necessarily, the blades 60 are arranged at uniformly spaced intervals on. the outer face of the intermediate wall 56. Both the blades 59 and the blades 60 preferably have the free edges thereof arranged to lie on arcs whereby rounded surfaces are afforded which insure against damage to clothing brought into contact therewith.

While n some instances it may be desirable to introduce unlike cleansing solutions into the tub proper and into the compartment 0, I have found that this is usually not necessary and hence at suitably located positions openings as BI are provided in the walls of the bowl-like member 50 so that cleansing liquid introduced into the tub ll may also flow into the compartment C.

When the bowl-like member 50 is arranged on the agitator A to afford the compartment C, the

- clothes are subjected to an unusual flow of liquid such as that hereinabove described and collect in substantially ring-like-formation about the intermediate wall 55 of the bowl-like member 50 and as the articles of clothing move one over the other in the substantially ring-like formation assumed thereby, those articles moving to the inner periphery of the ring-like formation are subjected to a gentle rubbing action in the course of oscillation of the agitator A. This arises primarily by reason of the fact that the constant changing in the direction of the cross flow as aforesaid causes the articles of clothing to remain in more or less fixed positions circumferentially in the tub even though the articles of clothing move one over the other in the substantially ring-like formation. Hence those articles of clothing which pass to the inner periphery of the substantially ring-like formation assumed thereby are subjected to a rubbing action either by contact thereof with the outer face of the intermediate wall 56 or by contact thereof with suitable rubbing means as the blade 50 afforded on the intermediate wall or both.

It will be understood that the outwardly disposed faces of the depressions 51 afiord pockets and the aforesaid cross flow induced in the liquid in the tub tends to flow into the pockets thus afforded, and this tends to insure that the clothes will be subjected to the aforesaid rubbing action in the course of oscillation of the agitator A, and this is particularly true where rubbing means as the blades 60 are provided for the flow of liquid into the aforesaid pockets tends to bring the 1 articles of clothing into engagement withv not only the edges but the sides of such blades.

The inwardly directed protuberances 51 on the intermediate wall of the bowl-like member 50 tend to act much like the protuberances 48 insofar as liquid motion induced in the compartment C by the portions 47a and blades 59 is concerned. Hence, the lighter and delicate articles of clothing which are introduced into the liquid in the compartment C are subjected to an effective yet gentle cleansing action, and these ar- Inasmuch as it is advantageous to insure that' the agitator A is free of portions which may catch articles of clothing introduced in liquid in the tub, it is desirable that the various portions of the agitator such as the column 39, base 40, fins 41 and portions 410 be afforded by a unitary structure, and I have found that this may be advantageously realized by forming the agitator A of plastic material and molding the same. This has the additional advantage of enabling the desired and proper configuration to be imparted to the agitator and the various parts thereof and this also enables accurate formation of the tapers "t so as to insure proper and accurate positioning of the bowl-like member 50 on the agitator A.

Moreover, by reason of the configuration that is imparted to the bowl-like member 50 so as to afford the protuberances as 51 and the blades as 59 and 60 and by reason of the fact that the slots 54 need be accurately sized so as to insure proper and accurate cooperation thereof with the portions 41a and the tapers 4'It thereon, it is also advantageous to form the bowl-like member 50 of plastic material for so to do facilitates the manufacture of the bowl-like member, and since it may be molded to the desired configuration the bowl-like member 50 may be formed as a unitary structure and it may be assured that the bowl-like member 50 will be free of joints or the like wherein articles of clothing might be caught in the course of operation of the machine.

While a widevariety of plastic materials may be employed in the molding of the agitator A and the bowl-like member 50, I have found that resinous products such as phenolic condensates or the like may be advantageously employed for thepurpose. Furthermore, while it is advantageous to mold the desired configurations and various portions on both the agitator A and the bowl-like member 50, it will be understood that, if desired, certain of the portions might be formed in independent operations and thereafter suitably joined to the remainder of the portions although, as stated hereinabove, it is preferred to form both the agitator and the bowl-like member 50 as unitary structures.

As stated hereinabove, whether or not protuberancesas 48 and, what are in effect, depressions 49 are provided, an agitator such as that described hereinabove will cause clothing immersed in a cleansing liquid in the tub T to collect in substantially ring-like formation in the liquid and will'cause the articles of clothing or the like so collected to move one over the other rubbing action and thereby efiective cleansing thereof is insured. It will, of course, be appreciated that the more rapidly the agitator A is operated the greater will be the movement imparted to the cleansing liquid and the greater will be the cleansing effect of the liquid.

However, by reason of the fact that the agitator A may be operated at different speeds, as explained hereinabove, and since it will be advantageous so to do because of the varying strength of different fibers when wet, the speed at which the agitator A will be operated will be determined by the nature of the fibers of the articles of clothing or the like being cleansed.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have provided a clothes washing machine wherein the articles of clothing being cleansed are caused to collect in substantially ring-like formation and in which formation the articles of clothing are caused to move one over the other, this arising by reason of the novel and unusual flow imparted to the cleansing liquid in the tub of the machine. It will also be seen that I. have provided an arrangement wherein light and delicate articles may be cleansed separately and apart from heavier articles so as to thereby insure against the likelihood of damage to the lighter and delicate articles such as might arise if they were cleansed along with the heavier articles. Additionally, it will be seen that I have so combined the aforesaid features that the articles of clothing being cleansed in the tub proper are subjected to a gentle yet effective rubbing action whereby the eflicient cleansing thereof primarily effected by the novel and unusual flow of liquid in the tub is materially enhanced. It will also be appreciated that I have so arranged the means providing the compartment in which the lighter and delicate articles may be washed separate and apart from heavier articles in the tub proper that effective cleansing of both the articles in the compartment and the articles in the tub proper is assured.

While I have illustrated and described a selected embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a clothes washing machine, a substantially cylindrical tub adapted to contain washing l quid to a substantially predetermined level therein, a substantially medially located agitating member in the tub and including liquid moving members extending upwardly from the bottom of the tub and so constructed and arranged as to cause the liquid in said tub to flow substantially helically first in one direction'and then in the other direction in the tub with the c nter of the helix substantially coincident with the vertical axis of the tub to thereby cause clothing and the like immersed in liquid in the tub to collect in substantially ring-like formation wherein the clothing and the like are substantially uniformly distributed about said axis and near the surface of the liquid, and means on said agitating member substantially centered on said axis and positioned to be disposed in substantially horizontal alignment with the clothing and the like collected in said substantially ringlike formation and operable upon operation of said agitating member to exert a rubbing action on clothing and the like at the inner periphery of said ring-like formation.

2. In a clothes washing machine, a tub, an operable member in the tub including an upstanding column and a base portion that is arranged adjacent the bottom of the tub and which includes spaced apart upstanding liquid impelling means that merge into other liquid impelling means that extend outwardly from said column in gradually increasing amounts downwardly of said column, and a bowl-like member having an opening in the bottom thereof into which said column may pass when said bowl-like member is moved downwardly on the column, said bowl-like member having slots therein extending outwardly from the opening therein and into which said other liquid impelling means may pass when said bowl-like member is moved downwardly on said column, the gradual increase in the size of said other liquid impelling means and the outwardextent of said slots being such as to cause interengagement of these parts at such a time during the downward movement of the bowl-like member on said column that said bowl-like'memher is retained in position on said column in spaced relation with the upstanding liquid impelling means, said bowl-like member when so retained on said column affording a compartment in said tub in which articles of clothing may be cleansed separately from articles of clothing being cleansed in the tub proper. and at least a portion of said other liquid impelling means being disposed in an exposed relation within said bowl-like member to thereby afford liquid impelling means therein.

3. In a clothes washing machine, a tub, an operable member in the tub including an upstanding column and a base portion that is -arranged adjacent the bottom of the tub and which has spaced apart upstanding liquid impelling means thereon, other liquid impelling means on said column extended outwardly therefrom in gradually increasing amounts downwardly of said column and which merge into the upper edges of the liquid impelling means on said base portion, and a bowl-like member having an opening in the bottom thereof intowhich said column may pass when said bowl-like member is moved downwardly on the column, said bowl-like member having slots therein extending outwardly from the opening therein and into which said other liquid impelling means may pass when said bowllike member is moved downwardly on said column, the gradual increase in the outward extent of said other liquid impelling means and the outward extent of said slots being such as to cause interengagement of the outer ends of the slots with the outer edges of said other liquid impelling means when the bowl-like member is positioned on said column above and in spaced relation with said upstanding liquid impelling means to thereby retain said bowl-like member on said column .to afford a compartment in said i i i 1 g has spaced apart upstanding liquid impelling means thereon, other liquid impelling means on said column extended outwardly therefrom in gradually increasing amounts downwardly of said column and which merge into the upper edges of the liquid impelling means on said base portion, a bowl-like member having an opening in the bottom thereof into which said column may pass when said bowl-like member is moved downwardly on the column, said bowl-like member having slots therein extending outwardly from the opening therein and into which said other liquid impelling means may pass when said bowl-like member is moved downwardly on said column, the gradual increase in the outward extent of said other liquid impelling means and the out-- ward extent of said slots being such as to cause interengagement of the outer ends of the slots with the outer edges of said other liquidimpelling means when the bowl-like member is positioned on said colmnn above and in spaced relation with said upstanding liquid impelling means to thereby retain said bowl-like member on said column to afford a compartment in said tub in which articles of clothing may be cleansed separately from articles of clothing being'cleansed in the tub proper, a portion of said other liquid impelling means being disposed in an exposed and projecting relation within the compartment so afforded when said bowl-like member is retained on said column to thereby afford liquid impelling means in said compartment, and still other liquid impelling means on the inner side of said bowl-like member adapted for cooperation with the portions of said other liquid impelling means in said compartment to impart a cleansing movement to liquid in said compartment upon operation of said operable member.

5. In a clothes washingmachine, a tub, an agitator in the tub, and a substantially bowllike member mounted on the agitator and affording a compartment in the tub in which selected articles of clothing may be washed separately from articles of clothing being washed in the tub proper, liquid impelling means on said agitator having portions thereof formed to include a downwardly and outwardly extending taper, said bowllike member having portions formed therein adapted to receive the tapered portions of the liquid impelling means and adapted for cooperation therewith to support said bowl-like member on said agitator with portions of the said liquid impelling means of said agitator disposed interiorly of said bowl-like member, the bowl-like member having inwardly directed protuberances formed at spaced intervals onthe wall thereof that are adapted for cooperation with the liquid impelling means of said agitator disposed interiorly of said bowl-like member to impart motion to liquid in the compartment afforded by said bowl-like member upon operation of said agitator to facilitate the cleansing of articles of clothing disposed in the compartment alIorded by said bowl-like member.

6. In a clothes washing machine, a substantially cylindrical tub, a substantially medially located agitating member in the tub, means for oscillating said agitating member, said agitating member including upstanding liquid mnving members at the bottom of the tub, constructed and arranged to operate upon such oscillation to cause the liquid in the tub to flow substantially helically first in one direction and then in the other direction with the center of the helix substantially coincident with the vertical axis of the tub, substantially vertically extending flow deflecting means at the tub wall of rounded configuration horizontally, said deflecting means inducing a forceful flow of liquid toward the clothes to expedite cleansing thereof, the lower ends of said flow deflecting means being disposed substantially in the horizontal plane of the top of the liquid moving members and the upper ends of said flow deflecting means being spaced from the top of the tub, and means on said agitating member in substantially horizontal alignment with the upper portions of said flow deflecting means and positioned between the vertical axis of the tub and the deflecting means and operable upon operation of said agitating member to exert a rubbing action on clothes and toward which a forceful flow of liquid is induced by said flow deflecting means.

7. In aclothes washing machine, a tub, an

agitator in the tub, and a substantially bowl-like member detachably mounted on the agitator and affording a compartment in the tub in which selected articles of clothing may be washed separately from articles .of clothing being washed in the tub proper, said bowl-like member having inwardly directed protuberances each being relatively wide in a peripheral direction and disposed at spaced apart intervals on the wall thereof and defining relatively wide pockets in said wall exteriorly of the bowl-like member, said pockets facilitating cleansing of articles of clothing being washed in the tub proper upon operation of said agitator. said bowl-like member and said rubbing means being' formed of plastic material and molded into a unitary structure.

8. In a clothes washing machine, a tub, an agitator in the tub, and a substantially bowl-like member detachably mounted on the agitator and afiording a compartment in the tub in which selected articles of clothing may be washed separately from articles of clothing being washed in the tub proper,-said bowl-like member having inwardly directed protuberances each being relatively wide in a peripheral direction and disposed at spaced apart intervals on,the wall thereof and defining relatively wide pockets in said'wall exteriorly of the bowl-like member, said bowl-like member having liquid agitating means on the inner side thereof adapted for cooperation with the protuberances thereon and said bowl-like member also having clothes rubbing means on the outer surface thereof disposed intermediate said pockets and adapted for cooperation with said pockets to expedite cleansing of articles of clothing in the tub proper upon operation of the agitator, said bowl-like member and the agitating and rubbing means thereon being formed of plastic material and molded to afford a unitary, strucure.

ARTHUR H. LABISKY. 

